• French oak
• Ripe plum
• Smoke & spice
• Smooth tannins

"Stylish, ultra perfumed, vibrant style with red fruits and spice on the nose. Remarkable intensity, with caressing tannins and a fresh tapering finish. Very integrated and harmonious, lovely acidity with a touch of finesse" Interntational Wine Challenge 2020

"In rich tones of exotic spices and savoury notes, this engaging pinot shows dried cherry, smoked game, clove, truffle and toasted nut characters on the nose. The palate is equally satisfying with excellent weight and silky flow, beautifully complemented by velvety texture and layers of polished tannins. From the Upper Moutere district. At its best: now to 2027" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Dec 2022

A vibrant ruby red hue in the glass. Rich dark fruits and smoky, spicy French oak on the nose. A palate of ripe plum, subtle earthy notes and balanced smooth tannins.

Upper Moutere, Nelson , New Zealand. Tarakona (Dragonfly, or Dragon) Block. Planted 2005. 2.0ha. Ancient Moutere alluvium clay soils, featuring deeply weathered and dissected gravels.

The growing season began with cooler temperatures during flowering impacting fruit set and resulting in low to moderate yields. A cooler summer brought higher than usual levels of precipitation to the region. Clean fruit at ideal ripeness levels was achieved through meticulous vineyard management allowing light and airflow into the canopy.

Grapes were gently hand-harvested, days apart to ensure maximum ripeness and quality. Lightly crushed and destemmed fruit was held in stainless steel for around six days. The must was slowly warmed and inoculated with specifically selected yeasts. An extended maturation period on skins allowed for a gentle and balanced extraction of colour and tannin. The wine was developed in French oak barriques before secondary malolactic fermentation.